Label blacklists Lohan

Has late-night partying gotten the best of Lindsay Lohan?

After being reprimanded by a movie boss last week for late appearances to the set of her movie Georgia Rule, Lohan is in trouble with the corporate world in a different medium--music.

UK record label Island Records has fired the actress-singer after she failed to promote her 2004 album Speak and single "Over" in the United Kingdom, according to The Sun.

"[The] single was a huge flop over here because Lindsay couldn't be bothered to get off her bum and promote it. In the end, they didn't even bother releasing the album in Britain," wrote the British paper, quoting an anonymous source.

"She didn't bother to come over to the UK to do interviews or make TV appearances to help sell the album," the source said.

"Island have now decided not to do another one with her."

Thom Yorke demands UK leader's resignation

Thom Yorke--the frontman and lead singer of British band Radiohead and who recently ventured out with his own solo album--vented on the band's Web site that British Tony Blair "is not fit to be our prime minister."

Radiohead and Yorke, already known for their criticism of the George W. Bush administration in the US, ranted about politicians' indecision regarding the ongoing Mideast violence. (MP3.com has cleaned up the grammar and spelling for you, though.)

"I've had enough of this," Yorke wrote. "Our government sitting on the fence with the US while World War 3 appears to be breaking out in Lebanon and Northern Israel."

"We must throw Tony Blair out of office NOW. He does not represent the views of the British people. He does not represent the views of his foreign office and officials. He does not even represent the views of those in his cabinet. He cares far too much about his relationship with Bush, and [News Corp. chairman Rupert] Murdoch.

"This man is not fit to be our prime minister."

After all, Yorke wrote, "it's a nice sunny day. Come on, let's do it. You know it makes sense."

Although Yorke's first solo album, The Eraser, recently debuted in the United States at No. 2, selling 90,000 copies, the five-man band is still going strong. In late June, Radiohead traveled across the Atlantic for a few US and Canada dates, including a couple of shows at the Greek Theatre in Berkeley, California.

Part of Fantasia's Idol biopic a lie?

American Idol star Fantasia Barrino has included a scene in her upcoming biopic that Idol creators are saying is bunk.

The scene in the movie, The Fantasia Barrino Story: Life Is Not a Fairy Tale, involves Barrino returning to her dressing room after the filming of an Idol episode. Awaiting her are two of the show's producers, who proceed to discourage the aspiring songstress from continuing in the competition. The two Idol flacks subtly hint that the fact Barrino is a young, unwed mother has soured fan opinion against her.

But Idol executive producer Ken Warwick said the scene is an out-and-out lie.

"It's absolutely and totally untrue. Nobody would have said anything like that to her," Warwick told the New York Post. "Under no circumstances was she ever...talked out of taking part in Idol. We knew she had a baby right from day one, and she was always strongly tipped to win the competition because she was so good. I can absolutely refute that nothing was done, or even remotely suggested to her, that she shouldn't take part in the competition."

Barrino, who won season three of the Fox reality contest in 2004, is playing herself in the August 19 Lifetime TV movie, based on the singer's 2005 memoir.

Ashlee Simpson's image reversal?

An apparent about-face by singer Ashlee Simpson has left editors at the women's magazine Marie Claire furious.

"She's had it with Hollywood's twisted view of feminine beauty," an article about Simpson in the magazine two months ago said. "Her goal: to get women to appreciate their diverse shapes and sizes."

But Marie Claire editor Joanna Coles said she has received more than 1,000 letters from the magazine's readers, who are upset about Simpson's perceived hypocrisy. Since the article was published, Simpson has been rumored to have received a nose job and inserted long, blonde hair extensions.

"We're dazed and confused--and disappointed--by her choice, too!" Coles wrote. The September issue of the magazine has been widened so that more of the anti-Ashlee letters will make it to print, Coles said.

Janet and fans tweak album title

A cover-art design contest has encouraged Janet Jackson to rename her September-slated album from 20 Years Old to 20 Y.O.

The contest, cooked up with Yahoo Music, pits Jackson fans against one another to crank out album covers, and the best four will appear on the first 1 million copies of the LP. But because many of the fan-created graphics featured the text "20 Y.O."--not "20 Years Old"--Jackson decided to reword her latest album.

The R&B singer's first album was 1986's Control.

20 Years Old--err, 20 Y.O. will make its way to US record stores on September 26, and the album's first single, "Call Me," features rapper Nelly.

One last chance to rock Rock the Bells

Those who missed out on MP3.com's Rock the Mic at the Rock the Bells contest still have a chance to share the stage with some of the world's top rappers.

A San Francisco competition featuring 10 would-be rappers, called Grind & Glory, will crown one emcee with the opportunity to perform at the two-day hip-hop show Rock the Bells. The winner will receive free studio time, CD duplication, and $1,000.

The 10 emcees will square off Saturday, August 5 at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco. For more information, check out the Grind & Glory Web site.